Will A Polygraph Examiner Tell You If You Failed

Will A Polygraph Examiner Tell You If You Failed In 2001 the National Academy of Sciences conducted a research study and concluded that the accuracy of the polygraph in non-specific issue testing (such as pre-employment testing) is roughly the same as random chance. Polygraph supporters will tell you the NAS study ignored important, pro-polygraph research.

Visualize success – Picture yourself calmly passing the polygraph with truthful answers. Be honest – Lying will only harm your case if you are innocent. Answer truthfully and confidently. While polygraphs are not guaranteed to detect lies, following these tips can help avoid many pitfalls that trap truthful people.


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But like so many other parts of the clearance process, the polygraph exam isn’t a cut-and-dried science. And despite what the movies might tell you, it’s not a lie detector test. Many applicants do not receive a simple “pass” or “fail.” The test can be “inconclusive.” That’s where this week’s Ask CJ takes us. A user wrote:


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Mar 5, 2021Truth is – I didn’t plant a bomb. I planted a pretend bomb – a shoebox filled with webcams and wires – and I’m relying on my physiology to share the pedantic, but surely relevant


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Will A Polygraph Examiner Tell You If You Failed

The reality is that calling the polygraph a “lie detector” is a misnomer. As I’ve pointed out previously in this forum, the polygraph cannot determine whether an examinee is lying because there is no uniform physiological indication of lying. The real value of the polygraph for federal agencies is its utility as a scare tactic. You see, the polygraph can’t tell if you’re “lying.” However, it can display bio-feedback to the examiner (the person conducting the test) that you’re being “deceptive.” Deception indicates that you’re avoiding telling the whole story about something or avoiding telling the truth to prevent an adverse outcome.

But like so many other parts of the clearance process, the polygraph exam isn’t a cut-and-dried science. And despite what the movies might tell you, it’s not a lie detector test. Many applicants do not receive a simple “pass” or “fail.” The test can be “inconclusive.” That’s where this week’s Ask CJ takes us. A user wrote:


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You may contact your assigned Polygraph Examiner identified in your written reporting instructions if you need to cancel or reschedule. If you have specific questions or concerns regarding your polygraph examination, please contact the Credibility Assessment Division at [email protected] or address correspondence to 90K NE, Suite 600


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Security Clearance. Anxiety impacts millions of Americans, including a significant number of security clearance-holders and applicants. In the vast majority of cases, it is not an impediment to obtaining or retaining a security clearance, regardless of whether it has been formally diagnosed. One notable exception, however, can be SCI billets


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The reality is that calling the polygraph a “lie detector” is a misnomer. As I’ve pointed out previously in this forum, the polygraph cannot determine whether an examinee is lying because there is no uniform physiological indication of lying. The real value of the polygraph for federal agencies is its utility as a scare tactic.


Image:


You see, the polygraph can’t tell if you’re “lying.” However, it can display bio-feedback to the examiner (the person conducting the test) that you’re being “deceptive.” Deception indicates that you’re avoiding telling the whole story about something or avoiding telling the truth to prevent an adverse outcome.


Image:


You may contact your assigned Polygraph Examiner identified in your written reporting instructions if you need to cancel or reschedule. If you have specific questions or concerns regarding your polygraph examination, please contact the Credibility Assessment Division at [email protected] or address correspondence to 90K NE, Suite 600


Image:


Security Clearance. Anxiety impacts millions of Americans, including a significant number of security clearance-holders and applicants. In the vast majority of cases, it is not an impediment to obtaining or retaining a security clearance, regardless of whether it has been formally diagnosed. One notable exception, however, can be SCI billets


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Even the term “lie detector,” used to refer to polygraph testing, is a misnomer. So-called “lie detection” involves inferring deception through analysis of physiological responses to a structured, but unstandardized, series of questions. The instrument typically used to conduct polygraph tests consists of a physiological recorder that assesses
You see, the polygraph can’t tell if you’re “lying.” However, it can display bio-feedback to the examiner (the person conducting the test) that you’re being “deceptive.” Deception indicates that you’re avoiding telling the whole story about something or avoiding telling the truth to prevent an adverse outcome.